The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-06-23
THE LOST DEED.
BY ISABEL HOLMES


Reuben Hill was saying to his wife, as
be wiped the perspiration from his face
with his red, polka-dottcd handkerchief.
Nathan was so methodical like about
his papers and everything. 1t wasn't
like him to mislay it. But | have looked
through all the drawers of that old ma
hogany desk and among his other papers
fifty times guess. l know he meant
the Red Brook Farm for Oscar, but if
that deed is never found l suppose his
own boys will take it,"
Mrs. Hill was bending over the kitchen
stove with flushed face, for the day was
hot. The odor of fried ham fill cd the
air. She stood back and looked at Reu-
ben by the open window, with a mqdi-
tativc air.
at is queer about it," she echoed.
at will be mean enough if Oscar gels
cheated out of q share in the property.
He worked faithfully for Nathan till he
was of age, more faithfully than his own
boys, and Nathan thought so much of
him, too"
"And meant to do the square thing
Ivy him." Reuben continued. "You
don't suppose Robert or Will had hand
IN"
| Reuben interrupted himself to look up,
as strange shadow fell across the
square of sunlight in the kitchen door.
A girl, a stranger, carrying a valisc, was
standing there. Her comcly face was
flushed, and she seemed somewhat over
come with the heat.
Mrs. Hill looked at her with an cn-
couraging smile. The girl stepped in
side the doorway in response to the
mute welcome.
s. "D0n't YOU waut to hire a girl at low
wages through the hot weather." she
enquired abruptly.
1--WE do our own work." Mrs. Hill
responded. "Our own girls, Addic and
Lottic, arc both at home this summer.
Have you come far2 You look heated.
Won't you sit down where it IS cool and
rest"
81 have walked from Kennebunk this
forenoon" said the girl. Il am pretty
tired"
She sat down in the Madras covered
chair by the open door. Her eyes
wandered around the kitchen as if she
recognized something famliarin the sur.
roundings, although she was a stranger.
"You've come pretty long stretch, u
Reuben volunteered, giving her a quick,
sh-ewd glance. He was apt to be OIL
the lookout for strangers.
Mrs. Hill regarded her with the kind
motheriness she felt for her own girls.
you'll feel better after you have had
some dinner with US" she said.
"Just left place, l s'pose," Reuben
commented.
eyes" said the girl. She spoke witt
slight Scotch accent. She seemed ;
little embarrassed with the question, anG
her eyes wandered through the door tt
the hired men coming up to dinner iron
the hay field.
FL had a pretty good place, but
wanted change" she said, bringing
her glance to bear upon Reuben's fact
bashfully.
"a girl ought to stick to good
place." he ventured.
She made no reply to this 'fecler, .
but something like smile flittel owe
her face.
"sort of odd, 1 guess" was Reuben
thought.
Mrs. Hill removed the "sizzling'
spider from the hot stove, and taking VI
the platter of brown slices of ham, sh'
said to the girl:
"Come in this way and take off youl
hat"
The girl followed her into the coo
dining-room and gave the same peculla
glance around. Mrs. Hill set the platte
on the invitingly laid table and thei
conducted the stranger into her owl
bedroom adjoining, where the higl
feather bed stood, covered with patch
work quilt of pink and white "baskc
work."
"Just lay your things on the bed an'
come right out to dinner" Mrs. Hi
said. Here's little girl who wants
place to work." she said to Lottic, VIII
just then came out of the buttcry will
a huge apple pie, which she placed O.
the table.
swell, there's enough work 10 b
,, done here, dear knows" Lottie rcturne,
, briskly, with friendly nod TO the new
) conner. There's sewing enough t
keep Addie busy six months, and tina
spinning-I don't believe you'll ge
round to it before Christmas. 1t take
t US both all the time to potte
round with the household. do thin
ours beats all the houses in the neigh
borhoOd to pile up work. Yet we ar
always at it, late and early
,, The hired men now came in and tn
family gathered around the table. Oscar
a tall, rather good looking fellow, sa
directly opposite the girl. She wa
) looking around upon the assemble
faces with that strange look Of half rec